Burial-vault.



Patented Nov. 4, |902.

BURIAL VAULT.

Application filed Feb. 13, 1902.1

(No Model.)

@zml/buenas' 1H: mums Pneus ca. Pnbnmnnu, WASHINGTON, Dic.

UNITED ilSTATES DAVID W. PEOKI-IAM,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF NORWALK, OHIO.

BU RlAL-VAU LT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,955, dated November4, 1902. Application iiled :February 13, 1902. Serial No. 93,903. (Nomodel.)

.To all whom, it 77mg/ concern,.- p

Beit known that I, DAVID W. PECKHAM, a, citizen of the United States,residing at Nor? walk, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Buria1-Vaults; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exf -act description ofthe invention, such as Will Irs enable others skilled in the art towhichit appertains to make and use :the same. This invention relates toimprovements inT burial-vaults; and its object is to provide a vaultwhich shall be simple of construction, vcomparatively inexpensive ofproduction, practically indestructible under ordinary usage, andimpervious to air and moisture.

The invention consists of certain novel features and parts andcombinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter andthen pointed out in the claims.

Apractical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view of a vault embodying my invention,showing the cover raised from the body and also showing a portion of theouter'layers of plaster and cement broken away to expose the Wall of thebody. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the closed vault on the line ofthe valved tube. Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged cross-sectional viewsthrough a wall of the vault, showing tw`o different forms of foraminouswalls and the arrangement of the layers of cement and plaster.

The vault comprisesin its construction but two main parts, a body l anda top or cover 2, which top or cover is adapted to fit down within arecess 3 in the top of the body and to be cemented in place, ashereinafter described, to hermetically seal the vault. The body and topmay be of any preferred general form. Each of said parts or sections ofthe vaultconsists of a foraminous or reticulated frame Y 4, preferablyconstructed of plate metal or woven wire having perforations or meshesof a suitable size. Figs. 3 and Ll, respectively, represent a frame-wallof Woven wire and a similar Wall of perforated sheet metal. To the innerand outer surfaces of the walls of this frame is applied a coating orlayer 5 yof some suitable plaster which is air and moisture proof and anon-conductor of heat and cold, such as Wood-ber plaster, the use ofwhich is preferred, as it is light and adheres firmly and is proofagainst fracture under all ordinary Vshocks or blows. The inner andouter layers of this plaster are bound together by the portions of theplaster pressed through the meshes or perforations in the Walls of theframe, and the frame is coated to the requisite depth with a substancewhich renders it absolutely air and Water proof. The plaster forms thefoundation to receive one or more coats or layers 6 of Portland cement,which is applied untiltherequisitestrengthisattained. After the casket,with its contents, is placed in the body 1 the top or cover 2 is thenapplied and cemented in place, the air exhausted' from the interior ofthe vault by means of a vacuum-pump connected to a check-valved tube 7,carried by the cover, and said tube then suitably sealed. The vault willthen be hermetically closed and made proof against the entrance of airand moisture.

A distinct feature of my invention consists in extending the layers ofplaster and cement plaster sheathings of the cover therein andV then tocover the joint by the outer layer of cement of the cover, therebysealing the joint against the access of air and moisture and at the sametime forming a practically-homogeneous structure. Hence I am enabled toobtain extreme lightness with maximum strength.

I f desired, the bottom of the body l may be formed or provided withribs or projections 8 for strengthening purposes and for supporting thecasket at an elevation, so that it Will not come in immediate contactwith said bottom.

By constructing the vault in the manner described an exceedingly cheapyet strong and durable structure is provided, and as the IOO applicationof cement need not be made until the vault is desired for use the framewith the fiber plaster applied thereto is light enough to be shippedlong distances at a relatively 10W cost.

Having thus described Iny invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A burial-receptacle consisting wholly or largely of a foraminousframe sheathed with inner and outer layers of non-conducting plaster,said layers being bound together by interconnecting portions of theplaster pressed through the meshes or perfor-ations of the frame, andlayers of cement forming inner and outer sheathings for the plaster,substantially as set forth.

2. A burial-receptacle consisting of a body comprising a frame formed ofa bottom, sides and ends of foraminous material, layers of plastersheathing the inner and outer sheathings for the plaster, a groove beingformed in the upper edge of the body above the upper edge of the frame,and a cover composed of a foraminous frame-piece having its edges bentdown to enter said recess and form with the reticulated frame portion ofthe body a practically continuous body and cover frame, inner and outerlayers of plaster sheathing the frame-piece of the cover, and inner andouter layers of cement covering said layers of plaster on the cover andsealing the recess in the body, substantially asset forth.

In testimony 'whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

DAVID W. PECKHAM.

Witnesses:

B. B. Woon, JOHN NILEs.

